15573094
Description
Flashcards by Seyi Ogunbusola, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Seyi Ogunbusola
about 6 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| What is first past the post? | Is an electoral system and uses the plurality system, used for UK general elections. |
| How does FPTP work? | 1.Voters elect 1 candidate on ballot paper 2.Winning candidates from each constituency take up seats in HoC 3.Party with an absolute majority forms the government |
| Advantage of FPTP? 1: | Strong government: Parties with a clear overall majority can provide effective leadership for the country |
| Advantage of FPTP? 2: | Stable government: FPTP usually provides strong stable governments with a clear overall majority and a mandate to lead country. |
| Advantage of FPTP? 3: | Strong MP constituency link: FPTP uses single member constituencies. Means that one MP represents a clearly defined area. Able to be held accountable more easily for their actions |
| Disadvantages of FPTP? 1: | Disproportionate results: The share of seats one is not proportionate to the share of votes won. e.g. 2015 election UKIP won 3.9 million votes but only won 1 seat |
| Minority government | Governments are elected after winning only a minority of votes.This threatens both the legitimacy and the theory of the mandate. e.g 2017 election no party won 50% of the vote. Question legitimacy of conservative mandate |
| Disadvantages of FPTP? 3: | wasted voted and lack of choice. Many of the votes cast do not have any impact on the final result. Smaller parties normally miss out, only real choice is between the Conservative party and Labour Party |
| What is STV? | Is a PR electoral system. It is used in NI assembly and EU Parliament election in NI |
| How does STV work? | Voters vote by ranking as many candidates as they want in order of preference. Any candidate that meets the quota after first preference votes are elected. Then second preferences are shared amongst other parties until all seats have been filled. |
| Advantage of STV? 1: | Wider choice: So people feel more represented if their is more to choose from. e.g. 2011 Northern Ireland assembly 10 candidates to choose from |
| Advantages of STV? 2: | Proportional: Seats are awarded in proportion to votes. Results seem more legitimate to public. People feel more represented. e.g. 2011 NI election Sinn Fein party won 26% of the vote awarded 26% of the seats |
| Advantage of STV? 3: | Representation: Each constituency has several seats available. Voters more widely represented. In turn there is a higher turnout as people feel more represented |
| Disadvantage of STV?: 1 | Complex system:Voters may nor be ale to understand how the system works. May lead them to not respecting legitimacy of result, may defer them in future affecting turnout. Can also lead to many spoilt ballot papers |
| Disadvantage of STV? 2: | Unstable: Seats are on in proportion to votes won. Means that no single party gains majority. Leads to power sharing. Takes a long time to pass decisions. |
| Disadvantage of STV? 3: | Internal conflict: Voters able to choose candidates from the same party, which means candidates from same party have to compete against each other, leads to party conflict and splits it. |
| What is AMS? | Is a Hyrbid electoral system. Used in Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly. |
| How does the AMS system work? | Voters cast 2 votes. One for its constituency and one for its party list. Party lists adjusts total seats awarded to each party to balance out disproportional FPTP votes |
| Advantates of AMS? 1: | Coalitions are more common: Produces are more Representative government. No single party tends to dominate |
| Advantage of AMS? 2: | Reduces disproportional votes of FPTP: Reflects the will of the people better, more democratic and legitimate. |
| Advantage of AMS? 3: | Offers voters a better choice. can cast 2 votes, gives voter a better chance of being represented even if first choice does not get elected |
| Disadvanteges of AMS? 1: | More complex: Voters may not understand how top up seats are calculated, may feel disengaged. May not respect final result |
| Disadvantages of AMS? 2: | coalitions May compromise legitimacy of the government |
| Disadvantages of AMS? 3: | Dominance of 2 main parties reduced: Smaller parties may not be fit to govern. |
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